A man accused of bringing large amounts of drugs into Gloucestershire has been killed in a driveby shooting in Birmingham last month.

Dante Mullings of Lighthorne Avenue, Ladywood, Birmingham was allegedly one of a gang of dealers bringing quantities of Class A drugs into the Cheltenham area. He had been due to appear at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday.

Mullings was murdered in Birmingham on May 7.

The 23-year-old was gunned down in the Ladywood area of the city in what police say was a targeted attack.

It is believed that the 23-year-old and two other men were in a silver Vauxhall Corsa when shots were fired from an oncoming car.

The three men managed to exit the car and attempted to flee a short distance down the road, but victim Mr Mullings collapsed as a result of his injuries.

Following his death his family told Birmingham Live : "Our family, friends and all who knew Dante are absolutely broken beyond belief.

"Dante was the epitome of kind, caring and thoughtful.

"The tributes that we have heard are testament of this.

"Dante will be terribly missed. Not only is his murder a huge loss to our family but also a considerable loss to the community."

Undated family handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of 23-year-old Dante Mullings who was found with fatal injuries in St Vincent Street West on Tuesday after shots were fired within yards of a primary school at about 5pm. Officers believe Mr Mullings was one of three men sitting in a silver-coloured Vauxhall Corsa when a weapon was fired from an oncoming car.

No evidence was offered by the Crown at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday in respect of co-defendants 24-year-old Ryan Brooks of St Peters Road, Handsworth, Birmingham and Josue Sarmento, 22, of Middleway View, Birmingham.